My Imported Bronco Body

[PCB 4x4]

I agree, and I will never use a Chinese built body. I am curious about the price of the Chinese built body.
Here's why I'm curious. After calling some of the Bronco vendors who are offering full replacement bodies, I learned that not all of the claimed "USA" built replacement bodies are truly "USA" built.

I asked one of the vendors where thier bodies were made. He told me they were built here in the US.
I told him I just don't want a Chinese body. He assured me that they weren't selling Chinese bodies. He said ours are assembled here, not in China.
I said , wait, built here or assembled here?
I asked where do the parts come from, and how much of it is actually from the US?
He said, the grill and the tailgate are American made.
I asked, What about the rest of it? He said the rest is made in Taiwan.
I told the guy it's a little deceiving to claim built in the USA.
I have zero issues with the vendor I spoke with, and I like their products.
I just want them to be upfront from the get go.

From the way the conversation started, I honestly thought they were producing the panels in the US. Just be up front and tell us you have a shop that assembles the entire body using foreign made panels.

Obviously I prefer American made parts if they are available.
Being made in Taiwan is definitely better than being made in China.

There are vendors who are taking their time to assemble the bodies so that we get a quality product. That I can definitely appreciate, and that's why I'll more than likely buy from a quality vendor.

They should say assembled in the USA.

 

[Got4wd]

I really don't see anything funny about China trying too put every American builder out of business They are taking a huge loss on every body they sell, but that's their plan. This is a huge Billion dollar company and can sustain this kind of loss, until they eliminate all the competition.

You will say that they all suck cause you are a body builder. I’m here too see the flaws. I’m sure if i looked close enough i could find some on yours.

 

[Got4wd]

I truly hope that the OP finds the body better than he expected. Being made in Taiwan or China probably not a huge difference if it’s specked to the correct gauge and stamping. I would love a USA body but they don’t exist. Just assembled in USA. These China bodies are always like oil mfg threads. Just back and forth lol

 

[Jakedog]

Does Rust Belt Offroad use Chinese bodies?
Their website makes it sound like they don't, but I thought I read somewhere that they were importing full bodies.

Maybe they do both for their customers.

 

[Jakedog]

I truly hope that the OP finds the body better than he expected. Being made in Taiwan or China probably not a huge difference if it’s specked to the correct gauge and stamping. I would love a USA body but they don’t exist. Just assembled in USA. These China bodies are always like oil mfg threads. Just back and forth lol

I think Dennis Carpenter builds their entire Bronco bodies here in the USA.
The problem with them is lead time.
From what I've read it takes 11 months to 3 years to receive your order.

 

[buck19]

You will say that they all suck cause you are a body builder. I’m here too see the flaws. I’m sure if i looked close enough i could find some on yours.

At least one builder is dropping prices to be more competitive. Carpenter has dropped his Bronco tub to $11,995 on the website. Its still much higher than the import with primer and/or paint.

 

[BigB]

I think Dennis Carpenter builds their entire Bronco bodies here in the USA.
The problem with them is lead time.
From what I've read it takes 11 months to 3 years to receive your order.

Dennis Carpenter states on the website that they "assemble" the bodies in the USA.

How much of that "assembled body" is actually made in the USA?

If it is 100% and that really sounds like it matters to you, then I guess you will have to get in line and wait for a completed body, after you fill out the form from your Asian built laptop or phone.

 

[Wallajw]

the body is better than expected the only real issue i have seen so far and ill get a picture of it is the fitment of the grill to fender on the bottom on the left side it will require some work to get it to fit the rest has good gaps and everything seems to fit well, i have not bolted the tailgate on yet just because its kind of a pain and i don't have the latches but maybe ill do that this week just to see how it fits. and it will be awhile as I'm working on the engine and getting the rolling chassis 100% but once i have it bolted to the frame ill have to see how it all fits, i don't really expect it to change but you just never know until its mated together.

carpenters assembles the bodies here just like all of the other builders some items can be sourced from carpenter's that are made in USA but most parts are not, they were also in stock when i asked about it back in April. so they must have figured out their lead times.

i got quotes from them, rust belt, and toms it would have twice as much to get basically the same thing i purchases, tax and shipping are big parts people don't consider when they look at the price, the tub that carpenters advertises isn't as complete so by the time you add all of that and tax and shipping its basically $20K, same with rust belt my final quote was about $20k i looked at toms also as i could pick it up myself so i could save on shipping and in Oregon there is no tax is purchased in person but you can see them advertised on their website for $19K i think, all of them are optioned a little different and some have latches and whatever but for comparison the import was about half as much

thanks

 

[Jakedog]

Dennis Carpenter states on the website that they "assemble" the bodies in the USA.

How much of that "assembled body" is actually made in the USA?

If it is 100% and that really sounds like it matters to you, then I guess you will have to get in line and wait for a completed body, after you fill out the form from your Asian built laptop or phone.

This is what I've found regarding Dennis Carpenter.

"According to their manufacturing statistics, approximately 95% of their stamped metal parts and 100% of the parts made from original Ford tooling are produced in the U.S.A."

I don't have a problem with foreign products in general. I'm just trying to keep my Bronco as American built as possible.
That's why I've been asking questions about country of origin.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

[Wallajw]

This is what I've found regarding Dennis Carpenter.

"According to their manufacturing statistics, approximately 95% of their stamped metal parts and 100% of the parts made from original Ford tooling are produced in the U.S.A."

I don't have a problem with foreign products in general. I'm just trying to keep my Bronco as American built as possible.
That's why I've been asking questions about country of origin.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

from what i can tell on their website the only parts actually made in the USA are the grille, tailgate, and rocker panel. when you look at their parts if its stamped or made in USA it says that right at the top of the description, the rest just say something like precision stamped or new tooling but if it was made in USA i can guarantee you they would be advertising it. but like their bodies they say assembled in the USA, it starts to get misleading not saying its on purpose but you really have to make sure you read into it.

 

[BigB]

the body is better than expected the only real issue i have seen so far and ill get a picture of it is the fitment of the grill to fender on the bottom on the left side it will require some work to get it to fit the rest has good gaps and everything seems to fit well, i have not bolted the tailgate on yet just because its kind of a pain and i don't have the latches but maybe ill do that this week just to see how it fits. and it will be awhile as I'm working on the engine and getting the rolling chassis 100% but once i have it bolted to the frame ill have to see how it all fits, i don't really expect it to change but you just never know until its mated together.

carpenters assembles the bodies here just like all of the other builders some items can be sourced from carpenter's that are made in USA but most parts are not, they were also in stock when i asked about it back in April. so they must have figured out their lead times.

i got quotes from them, rust belt, and toms it would have twice as much to get basically the same thing i purchases, tax and shipping are big parts people don't consider when they look at the price, the tub that carpenters advertises isn't as complete so by the time you add all of that and tax and shipping its basically $20K, same with rust belt my final quote was about $20k i looked at toms also as i could pick it up myself so i could save on shipping and in Oregon there is no tax is purchased in person but you can see them advertised on their website for $19K i think, all of them are optioned a little different and some have latches and whatever but for comparison the import was about half as much

thanks

What you are doing makes financial sense. Hopefully you don't have too many "gotcha's".

Don't forget the $8-900 body jig you have to pay Carpenters.

I think if a buyer is on the east coast and wants a USA assembled mongrel bronco, that North East Ford parts have the best deal going and from everything that I have read, build a top notch body.

 

[Got4wd]

I think Dennis Carpenter builds their entire Bronco bodies here in the USA.
The problem with them is lead time.
From what I've read it takes 11 months to 3 years to receive your order.

They said they can get one out this week if I wanted one.

 

[Jakedog]

They said they can get one out this week if I wanted one.

Seriously?
Everything I've looked up claims 11 months to 3 years.
I believe there are guys on CB that had to wait quite a while.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Might be the difference between a body, and a fully painted body taking a lot longer.

 

[Got4wd]

Seriously?
Everything I've looked up claims 11 months to 3 years.
I believe there are guys on CB that had to wait quite a while.

It was that way a few years ago but I called a month ago to go over what I wanted and it was “in stock ready to ship”. They had an option to panel bond the rear quarters which was out a couple more weeks since that is a custom thing.

 

[Wallajw]

Here are some pictures of the front grill fitment to the lower fenders. Will take a little work but nothing to difficult and I totally expected some fitting snd tweaking was going to take place and I would expect that when any tub you bought

 

[Jakedog]

Here are some pictures of the front grill fitment to the lower fenders. Will take a little work but nothing to difficult and I totally expected some fitting snd tweaking was going to take place and I would expect that when any tub you bought

Well that settles it. No need for me to buy a Chinese Bronco body...my original already looks like that.

 

[hunter1]

Here are some pictures of the front grill fitment to the lower fenders. Will take a little work but nothing to difficult and I totally expected some fitting snd tweaking was going to take place and I would expect that when any tub you bought

That’s not bad at all. I installed a “Ford stamped” Carpenter grill and their Taiwan fenders and the alignment at the bottom was terrible. Fender bottoms overhung the grill bottom contour by 3/8” either side. That looks like it would pull together alright.

 

[Wallajw]

That’s not bad at all. I installed a “Ford stamped” Carpenter grill and their Taiwan fenders and the alignment at the bottom was terrible. Fender bottoms overhung the grill bottom contour by 3/8” either side. That looks like it would pull together alright.

good to know i have been thinking about ordering a carpenters grill so it has the ford letters stamped but i may just get the ford emblems and do that instead

anyone know if the back of the bolt on grille emblems are flat or do they contour to go over the letters ?

thanks

 

[PCB 4x4]

good to know i have been thinking about ordering a carpenters grill so it has the ford letters stamped but i may just get the ford emblems and do that instead

anyone know if the back of the bolt on grille emblems are flat or do they contour to go over the letters ?

thanks

The nuts for the letters are flat speed nut. For the extra 100.00 you pay for the Carpenter grille, I can tell you for sure it doesn't fit any better than the one's from Taiwan.